The Air Intelligence Unit of the Customs at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport intercepted 124 kg of peacock tail feathers and arrested four Kuala Lumpur-bound passengers from a Thai Airways flight.

All the four accused were carrying 124 kg of peacock tail feathers to Bangkok and from there to Kuala Lumpur. Based on specific intelligence input, we were able to arrest them, Gurdeep Singh, Commissioner of Customs, Airport and Administration, told The Hindu.

Mr. Singh said that export of peacock tail feathers was prohibited under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and India's Foreign Trade Policy. The accused had been arrested under the Customs Act of 1962, he said.

The 124 kg. of peacock feathers seized from the accused was valued at Rs. 6.20 lakh, according to an official release of Kolkata Customs.

Mr. Singh said investigations were on to find out whether the accused had on earlier occasions carried such articles out of the country. The accused had returned from Bangkok on January 28, Customs officials said.